quickly

In between getting ready for prom tonight (again, I will tell you all about that later), trying to decide on booking this month to Japan or Thailand and dealing with the ever-present household help issues, I took a few moments to realize that Finn is 3 months old today; my how time flies.

He is such a fun little person to have in our lives. He makes us all happy just by being here. Holden asked me today "what should I do if Finnley tries to get away with something?" I told him that Finnley is just a little guy and probably won't be able to get away with much for quite some time. The other night Finn Holden and I were reading books in Holden's room, afterwards I left Finnley with Holden while I washed my face. Holden came in the bathroom and said "Mom, didn't you forget something? A living, breathing real-life baby!" Ah yes, Finnley has made an impact around here and we are loving every moment of his new found curiosity, his giggles and now squeals and his ever-present smile. We can't leave him for a moment as he kicks and rolls with such intensity that he is always "this close" to a tumble to the ground. He is very intense, but quick to smile and beams when any attention comes his way.

So I will leave you with a couple of photos from this morning. Is it just me or is Holden pretty? I think he could pass for a girl. Oh, I am sure that comment will scar him in the future. With that, I am off to the spa. A girls needs her nails done for prom doesn't she?

Where oh where has my little blog gone.

Have you missed me? It's been over a month. A whirlwind trip to the States experiencing this lovely stuff

and snuggling back into Manila-life have taken me away from you. I am back though. America photos, tales and tirades coming soon but not until after the weekend. We are getting ready for prom you know, more on that soon too!

yet another funny experience

As I posted before, giving birth in the Philippines was a shockingly easy and a good experience. I had many reservations about it but in the end it was on par, if not better, than having a baby in the States. Although we did have one of those unbelievable things happen as well.

Let me set the scene for you!

After I was transferred from recovery upstairs to our room which was actually a very big room with a bedroom section and a living section we noticed that the aircon was only working in the living part. As Nate was messing with the controls, one of the very helpful nurses said she would call engineering to come and turn it on for us. In the meantime, Nate headed down to the hospital lobby to meet his mom and Holden coming to see Finnley for the first time.


As I am laying there snuggling our precious new bundle in comes a fellow from the engineering department with a ladder. He proceeds to set it up right next to my bed. I am groggy and pretty drugged up still but I know something strange is going on. "What are you doing?" I asked him, "why is this ladder in here?" We were certainly lost in translation and he just said, "aircon." He then proceeded to climb the ladder, remove the ceiling tile an fiddle around while I lay there covering my baby, hoping he doesn't fall onto us and having vision of asbestos and other lovely thoughts.

Not two seconds later, in walks Nate with his mom and Holden in tow wondering what is going on, I just say "aircon." He grabs the camera and the moment of hilarity is captured for the generations. Of course, the air conditioning was either on or off. There was no temperature gauge so when it got to cold, engineering headed back up with their ladder and when it got too hot and stuffy, up they came again!

Out littlest cupid

Holden's Valentine's cupid ad for a Philippine department store came out today. The agency sent over a disk with the photos. He's yummy.

Finn and his grin

A few more holdenisms

"Mom, I am going to ask Santa for Dad to break up with you for Christmas."
"Why would you ask for that Holden?"
"So I can marry you silly!"

At school they are discussing differences in cultures, people, etc and how they are the same and how they are different. Brought this mom to tears when I heard what Holden said when asked what it is that makes him special. His answer: "I think it would be how much I love my baby brother."

While getting ready for school this morning I had the news on which was of course all about the inauguration. "Hey, Barack Obama, that's OUR President mom!"

"I am going to keep modeling, so I have lots of money when I grow up, then I will hire someone to wipe my bum for me!"

And the sign of a true budding entrepreneur. The other day while out after brunch he took my camera to take some photos of the water features, ducks, etc. Apparently he had started charging people 1 peso each to take their photo. He came back with P21, so I guess he is well on his way!

Department store catalogue

A city of 10 million and our little boy all around the city in various ads. Here is the front of a local department store catalogue and one of the inside pages. He thinks he's a movie star, watch out world!

With a straight face

When asked: "Holden, what part of no don't you understand?"

Holden responded with a complete deadpan manner: "The N part."

I couldn't keep my face straight at that one.

Any time a conversation starts like this, you know you're in for trouble

"Mom, can you ask Dad to put a nail in my bedroom wall so I can hang my slingshot just like dennis the menace?"

Holden asked Nate to make him a slingshot last week. He drew a picture of it at school and lucky for us our driver, Ed, is pretty darn crafty and offered not only advice on what tree to use but showed up Sunday with a branch cut down to size and sanded along with all the rubber bands and leather parts needed to make it all come together. Holden has been shooting "cokalite" cans down with wet paper balls for the past two days.

Shhh, we haven't told him that rocks and marbles can be used too. I don't think we're ready for that.

HA!

They are laughable. Family photos are rarely enjoyable for anyone. Especially family photos of a photographer's family! But...we did them anyway!

Was there stress? Yes. Were there threats? Yes. Were there blinking eyes, fake smiles and sad faces? Yes, yes and yes. Were there tears? No. Did we triumph? Yes. Will you ever see them? Of course, if you send me your address so I can mail you a card!

Finnley (the perfect baby, who never cries) SCREAMED and would not let the pacifier out of his mouth. What was going on with him today I will never know. Holden (the model, who makes a "living" doing this thing) was full of fake smiles and many "I need to take a break" excuses. Nate did his part well. I laughed so I wouldn't cry. Great day all around!

A moment captured where you can't see the Finnley's favorite friend (the pacifier)

And here is the usual look for our little sprite: don't mess with the paci.

The boys. 5 years old and 5 weeks old. My how time flies.

I adore Holden's imagination at this age. He is full of expressions and stories and dreams. Legos and tinker toys have provided him with endless possibilities to his imagination. He makes himself battle ships and jet packs out of them. He builds forts and flies through space. He draws pictures and makes up songs for Finn. He got his very own brush in his stocking from Santa and is so very serious when he combs his hair just right, ever strand in place. He questions EVERYTHING to the point where we are exhausted and really quite speechless in our answers because really, who knows what happens when black goes into a black hole?
When Finnley is upset he pats his head, sings twinkle twinkle little star and says "It's ok Finn, I'm here, your brother is right here."

Finnley is changing literally before our eyes. He is so much more aware every day. He is focusing on faces and voices now and we have started to see real smiles the past couple of days. He coos and chats up a little squak every once in a while. He is very expressive in the faces he makes and we are able to tell very quickly from whichever little groan, grunt or cry that comes out exactly what he wants: to be fed, to be changed, to be held or just a little singing and attention. It makes life pretty easy around these parts!

When you live in the tropics

your first trip to the swimming pool comes early on in life.

Here are some of the other things Finn has been up to in his first month!

Sleeping with Dad

Finding fingers and toes

Being thoroughly loved by his older brother

Christmas Round-up

Once again Santa found us in the Philippines. This was the first time in our 3 Christmas' here that we actually stayed in the city. It was nice to be home for the Holidays.
We spent Christmas Eve with great friends (Ben&Marissa and Bob&Kathy) where Holden found the wishbone and devoured the turkey leg.

Thumbs up for the wishbone

Nate and the very edible turkey: Finn

They boys with "Grandpa" Bob and "Aunt" Kathy

Holden with Ben and Marisa

It was a great night followed by Christmas morning when Holden did us the honor of sleeping in past 8am (unheard of these days)

This year we started a new tradition with gifts and it worked our wonderfully. In addition to Santa loot everyone gets gifts that each fall into one of five categories: READ, WEAR, WANT, NEED, EAT. Finnley was the most difficult to buy for as his want need and eat are all the same thing...milk! It was fun to find something that fit into each category that was special. I think it was a success and something we will follow each year.

As their "wear" the little boys both got matching speedos.

Santa made sure Holden was well taken care of with the only thing he asked for: star wars legos. Mom and dad came through with experiment kits to last the year and he had plenty of other gifts from friends and family.

Finnley ended up with various things he won't need for 8 more months but hey, Santa had to bring him something!

As per usual, Nate delivered in perfect style all the things he knows I love; jewelery, bags and clothes. He got a few surprises himself including a pair of cuff links with the boys names and birth years.

All in, it was a great day we were just missing out on a few key grandparents aunts uncles and cousins!

It's Christmas in Manila

Wishing you the very best this season!

Our family at Christmas Eve festivities.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

These are a few of my favorite things!

Five years between kids leaves the powers that be plenty of time to come up with new baby gadgets and things labeled as "must-haves." I am a sucker for new gadgets that make my life easier/cuter/more convenient/happier.

Babylegs. I laughed (out loud) when I first saw these little leg warmers in bright colors and fun patterns. I thought what a waste of money. Guess what. I LOVE THEM. I love them because I live in Manila where babies go from cold aircon to hot humid and muggy twenty times a day and layering is kind of important. I love them because they are colorful and match nothing and I love them because when I see them on my twig-legged little man they make me smile.

Metrowrap (in bling) pirate booty to be specific. Finnroe is a snuggle-bug. He won't wake, won't cry, won't budge when he is wrapped close to me in his pirate gear. You should see the looks we get. He snuggles in so well that folks here can't tell if I am pregnant, have a tumor or am smuggling a dog or baby around. But hey at least we have some glamour when we are out and about.

Bugaboo. Ah the zen stroller. Manila is NOT stroller friendly. Bumpy sidewalks, stairs with no ramps, elevators that don't always work. It's easier to wrap and carry the deuce around but when we do decide to take the stroller out and about, the bugaboo is the way to do it. Not only that BUT Nate recently did a number on it and they have THE BEST customer service EVER. The warranty is 2 years and they are replacing our defective one when we are stateside early next year. They obviously don't outsource their customer service and you certainly do get what you pay for with bugaboo!

Last but not least (and I am sure there is more to come) Zara Kids. Cute soft and the ONLY thing that will fit littlest guy right now. I just wish they had a bigger selection in Manila.

The May Boys

Prepare yourself...there are more to come. I mean photos of course, not children. :)

HA!

Finn needs a passport. For that he needs a photo. Actually he needs two of them. Identical 2x2 sized ones. On a white background. Sitting upright. Without assistance (ie: no arms or hands of mom and dad showing.) With his eyes open.

Are you laughing yet?

We accomplished that today. I consider it a successful day, don't you?

Happy Christmas and Merry Birthday

It's a chaotic time of year for everyone and I certainly fall into the category of "chicken without a head." So much so that I gave up control over something I never allow anyone to do: gift wrap. It's my niche, I'm good at it and what more, I like it. A lot.

But between the feeding and the diapers and the answering of random 5 year-old inquiries and listening to the components of each tinker toy and lego creation while balancing a nursing child and combing the blonde head of another well lets just say I relinquished control of some last minute gift wrapping.

The other day our dear friends had a birthday party for their 2 year-old. I asked one of our helpers to wrap the gift in anything BUT Christmas paper and this is what I left the house with:


A few days later I asked another one to wrap a Christmas gift for Holden's teacher in Christmas paper and nothing says Merry Christmas like pink yellow and orange, right?



Ah the joys of giving up control.

How appropriate

Do you remember when Holden was the devil?



Well, yesterday he had a chance to redeem himself in full angel wings. This time he was playing cupid for a Valentine's spread for a local department store.





True model form: on the psp between shoots.